Air Peace resumes Embraer E195-E2 operations after 18-month grounding, orders 3 more
July 30, 2025
Nigeria’s Air Peace has resumed operations with its Embraer E195-E2 fleet after an 18-month grounding. Persistent engine issues left Air Peace unable to fly its modern regional jets, with all five grounded since January 2024.
The Embraer E2 line is suffering from the same powder contamination issues that are causing mass groundings of Airbus’s A320neo family aircraft. Airlines from KLM’s Cityhopper to Canada’s Porter Airlines have been struggling as aircraft are taken offline for a fix.
But with its first E195-E2 in the air, Air Peace is keen for more. Ch-aviation reports it has converted three of its E175 orders to E-195-E2s, doubling down on the type just as its reliability is finally being restored.
Air Peace restores Embraer E195-E2 operations
The airline’s E2 jets were grounded in early 2023 due to ongoing problems with the Pratt & Whitney PW1900G geared turbofan (GTF) engines, which share the same core technology as the more widely discussed PW1100G used on Airbus A320neo family aircraft.
While attention has largely centred on the A320neo grounding wave, the PW1900G variant has been equally disruptive for regional operators.
According to NewsAero, Air Peace began revenue flights with the first of its five E195-E2s this week, with 5N-BYH operating a service between Lagos, Kano and Abuja on Monday, 28 July.
The other four aircraft remain grounded, but are expected to follow in the coming months.
With the Embraers grounded, Air Peace has been forced to rely on wet-leased aircraft to maintain its capacity. In June, five Airbus A320s from SmartLynx formed the backbone of its operations.
It also took delivery of a second-hand Embraer E195, which was originally delivered to UK regional airline Flybe in 2006, and is anticipating adding a former Kenya Airways E190 in the coming weeks.
With the Air Peace E2 back in service, the airline wants more
Shortly after the re-entry into service, the airline also revealed it had converted options for three of the smaller E175s into E195-E2 orders. This takes the airline’s total firm E2 orders to 16 aircraft, with five delivered and 11 outstanding. It retains orders for two E175s.
As reported by ch-aviation, these aircraft will expand the airline’s existing Embraer fleet, which remains the largest E2 commitment in Africa.
Embraer has positioned the E195-E2 as a fuel-efficient, right-sized jet for thin long routes and underserved domestic sectors—an increasingly attractive proposition as African carriers look to cut operating costs while preserving yield. However, the PW1900G’s reliability struggles have undermined those benefits.
Industry observers will be watching closely to see whether the relaunch marks a turning point for GTF-powered E2 operators. Several regional carriers in other markets have also reported high rates of aircraft-on-ground (AOG) time due to engine inspection requirements and long turnaround times for overhauls.
With a stabilised E2 fleet and new jets on the way, Air Peace is positioning itself to capitalise on domestic growth and strengthen its regional footprint. “Connecting every region in Nigeria and expanding our network across Africa remains our goal, no matter the challenges,” CEO Alan Onyema said in 2023.
But Air Peace has international ambitions too. The airline is set to land at the prestigious London Heathrow Airport for the first time this October, securing its spot on what promises to be a high-demand route.
